McMullan delighted with big win for Larne against Welders

Larne defender Stuart McMullan was delighted with Saturday’s 2-1 win over the Welders at Inver Park.

“It was really pleasing the way we played. I was just saying to the boys in the dressing room that last season when teams pulled a goal back we might have drawn or lost the game. It is a big three points and moves us up the table,” said team captain McMullan.

“Apart from the Portadown game we haven’t lost since mid-August and players are finding their form and consistency. The players coming off the bench are also doing well when they get a chance.

“It is all down to having belief and we need to go into matches with the right attitude. Today from the warm-up we were focused and it showed and the points are what matters.”

The win against nine-man Welders was Gary Smyth’s side’s first defeat of the season, and it moved Larne up to fourth place in Championship 1.

The Reds were on top from the off and went close to going ahead on five minutes. Stuart McMullan’s pass sent James McCabe clear and he was unlucky to see his low drive strike the upright.

Four minutes before the break Larne took the lead. Guillame Keke won the ball wide on the right and drove the ball into the danger zone where Darren Stuart was on hand to provide the finish.

Five minutes after the break the sides were level. Davy Rainey slipped the ball to Ryan Deans and his shot crept in at the near post.

Larne did not let the heads drop and were denied a second two minutes later when Keke’s free-kick struck the crossbar.

The Frenchman was not to be denied however. A ball over the top from Kevin Bradley found Keke and his precision lob sailed over Michael Dougherty into the net.

Tommy Robinson and Gerald Gillan tested Dougherty in the closing stages as the visitors had Michael McLellan and Neil Dougan red-carded.